KARACHI, June 3: The Pakistan People’s Party has demanded an independent election commission for free and fair elections under a neutral caretaker setup.

International observers should be allowed to monitor the election process and power must be transferred to the successful party, the PPP leaders said.

“We believe this is the only honourable way to overcome the serious crisis,” said PPP Vice Chairman Yousuf Raza Gillani while talking to newsmen at a lunch hosted by PPP Sindh General Secretary Nafees Siddiqui at his residence on Sunday.

Sindh PPP President Qaim Ali Shah, MNAs Manzoor Wassan, Aftab Shaban Mirani, Pir Aftab Shah Jillani, Syed Khursheed Shah, Dr Fahmida Mirza, Rashid Rabbani, Rafique Engineer and Shahadat Awan were also present.

Yousuf Raza Gillani said the PPP accepted army’s role as provided in the constitution. Army should not rule the country, he added saying that his party would not accept General Pervez Musharraf’s election as president from the present parliament.

“Under the constitutions, he (Musharraf) cannot get elected from the parliament and if he does so it will further deepen the crisis,” he said.

The PPP leader expressed his apprehension that election would not be held in the country if the present government did not foresee positive results.

Senator Raza Rabbani commended that all sections of society across the country had stood up against the military rule. He emphasised that army should discharge its responsibilities under the constitution and refrain from involving in politics.

Nafees Siddiqui said PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto would return to the country before the elections to lead the party’s campaign.—PPI